There was one
Citizen Wishing To Be Heard,
but it never became clear what
Karen Carlisle was talking about, nor who “we” was on behalf of which she was asking.
Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item,
with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman,
followed by a LAKE video playlist.
If you do not think “commercial and shopping options in Lowndes County”
should include a development foothold in an agricultural and forestry area,
here are ways you can oppose it: a survey, a petition, letters, call your Commissioner, and speak in the Public Hearing.
Which appears to be sufficient notice according to
O.C.G.A. 36-66-4(a): “A local government taking action resulting in a zoning decision shall provide for a hearing on the proposed action. At least 15 but not more than 45 days prior to the date of the hearing, the local government shall cause to be published within a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial boundaries of the local government a notice of the hearing. The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the hearing.”
The notice says opponents of the rezoning have to file a disclosure report about campaign contributions.
The same law, O.C.G.A. 36-67A-3 (2010)
says the applicant must also file a disclosure report.
I will include a request for that in the LAKE open records request before the January 24th Public Hearing.
Valdosta Daily Times, City and Public Notices, January 8, 2023,
Flags are to fly half-mast Sunday across the entire state of Georgia at the state Capitol and in Lowndes County for the late Sonny Vickers, whose absence loomed large over the
Valdosta City Council meeting.
The funeral will be
3 PM Sunday.
There will be a
special election for his Council seat,
as required by the city charter.
Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item with a few notes,
followed by a LAKE video playlist.
See also
the agenda.
The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request,
is
on the LAKE website.
Some of the materials are out of order (I don’t know why), so if you don’t find something at first, keep looking.
Cave in at manhole on Sustella Ave. along One Mile Branch.
Inspection discovered 525 feet also in danger of collapse.
Due to emergency, Utilities selected a contractor without bids.
Main input line to the plant, so “pretty critical.”
Replaced 5500 feet of cement line with epoxy line.
Emergency contractor selection with no bids.
Work already completed April 6th.
$259,430.86.
Council Tim Carroll pointed out that this is David Frost’s last Council meeting,
and tomorrow is his last day. Applause, and mutual thanks from Frost.
Gregory Williams, 806 West Gordon Street, said he was a son of Sonny Vickers’ work.
He proposed renaming Cherry Street to Sonny Vickers Lane.
Vickers always lived on Cherry Street.
Gracie Bacon, 708 Holly Drive, said three houses had junk cars and trash that made it difficult to breathe.
She invited Council to come see for themselves, then do something about it.
John S. Quarterman, Suwannee Riverkeeper, thanked the city for fixing two sewer lines and installing a trash boom at Sugar Creek.
He reminded them that there was more to do.
For example, that trash on Holly Drive probably washes into waterways.
More than that, fast food parking lots need trash cans and to keep trash from escaping.
The city has ordinances, so if they don’t do it, the city can fine them.
And the city should put trash cans on its own parking lots to set an example.
He invited Mayor and Council to a chainsaw cleanup on the Withlacoochee River.
Council Vivian Miller-Cody said
the funeral for Sonny Vickers will be 3:00 PM this Sunday at
Woodlawn Forrest Church of Christ, 1515 Barack Obama Blvd.
If there’s no room, people can go to
Harrington Funeral Home, 713 Lake Park Road, 229-242-2828.
She said the family requests no flowers, rather donations to a cancer foundation
which they are starting in honor of Council Sonny Vickers.
Mayor Scott James said the state proclamation from the governor
is to fly flags throughout the state at half mast this Sunday.
Standing ovation.
RIP Sonny Vickers + two sewer lines fixed @ VCC 2022-06-23
Valdosta City Council Regular Session, June 23, 2022, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
-jsq
Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!
The Valdosta City Council tomorrow will consider two sewer line issues,
at Sustella Avenue and at the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Also two airport issues, and more.
Including a special election for City Council District 3,
now vacant because of the death of Sonny Vickers (pictured, top left).
Terry Richards, Valdosta Daily Times, June 17, 2022,
Vickers passes: Remembering Valdosta’s first Black mayor
The Lowndes County Commission approved everything as fast as they could
hear each item read and vote,
at their fifteen-minute Regular Session of May 24, 2022.
As expected, the Lowndes County Commission at its Regular Session passed the half million dollar bailout for a developer.
Not expected, they changed the agenda at the beginning of the meeting to approve new Commission district maps
and a resolution supporting them, for immediate transmission to the state.
One citizen wishing to be heard spoke about the never ending noise from the 15 month old Arglass factory.
Vice Chair Joyce Evans, presiding over the meeting in the absence of Chair Bill Slaughter, introduced the agenda change for district reapportionment indicating the Commissioners all already knew this was going to happen. Continue reading →
At yesterday morning’s Lowndes County Commission Work Session,
there was no discussion by the Commissioners about
5.k. Property Purchase – Building Valdosta, LLC,
but new wrinkles did come to some small light.
County Manager Paige Dukes said
“This is a follow up on the Building Valdosta purchase of property we have discussed with you several times…”
In what public meeting did those discussion take place?
She also said the county attorney had worked out an agreement with Building Valdosta, yet that agreement was not in the board packet.
And she remarked, “Any other claims related to this will continue through, um, any process with ACCG that they may have for lost profits.”
She immediately called for
an Executive Session for “Client-privileged communication regarding potential or pending litigation and for the purchase of property.”
Sounds like the county got sued by a developer, or was threatened with a lawsuit, and is resolving that by bailing out the developer with half a million of our tax dollars.
But the County Commission agenda does contain
two examples of how taxpayers are subsidizing development in Lowndes Counta.
The $45,742.00 for the
5.d. Nelson Hill Lift Station Pump Upgrade is “Due to growth in the area”: growth the county is actively promoting.
The $568,971.00 for
5.k. Property Purchase – Building Valdosta, LLC is
a markup of $323,971 over the price that property sold for last year,
supposedly to protect Moody AFB, even though how is not said and it’s 2.4 miles away.
On the one hand, I commend Lowndes County Utilities for staying ahead of
sewer system demand and thus preventing sewage spills.
On the other hand, look at why the agenda sheet says: Continue reading →
![[Collage @ LCC 14 February 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-02-14--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)
![[Trash bags across GA 122 from the rezoning notice sign]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-01-12--dg-survey/20230113_095210.jpg)
![[Public Notice and Future Development Map, REZ-2022-20, GA 122 @ Skipper Bridge Road]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-01-08--public-notice/many.jpg)
![[Sonny Vickers and other matters]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/valdosta/2022-06-23--vcc-videos/many.jpg)
![[Front Row: Mayor Scott James Matheson; Middle Row: Ben Norton, Council At-Large, Sandra Tooley, District 2, Tim Carroll, District 5, Vivian Miller-Cody, Mayor Pro-Tem, District 1; Back Row: Sonny Vickers, District 3, Andy Gibbs, District 6, Eric Howard, District 4.]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/valdosta/2022-06-23--vcc-agenda/council_photos.jpg)
![[Some agenda items]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2022-05-24--lcc-videos/many.jpg)
![[Attorney, Utilities, Engineering, Manager]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2022-05-23--lcc-videos/many.jpg)
![[Amendment, Commissioners, New Districts]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2022-01-25--lcc-videos/many.jpg)
![[Joyce Evans presiding]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2022-01-24--lcc-videos/many.jpg)
![[Agenda, Nelson Hill Lift Station]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2022-01-24--lcc-packet/many.jpg)